Portugal-Based FRULACT Group Opens First U.S. Processing Plant In Rupert, Idaho

Area Development News Desk

10/16/2013

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A Portugal-based company that produces fruit-based preparations for international food industries, FRULACT Group, plans to open its first United States processing facility in Rupert, Idaho.

Frulact develops custom-made fruit preparations for leading food labels in the dairy, beverages, ice-cream and industrial pastry markets throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The company is expected to begin construction on the approximately 200,000-square-foot fruit preparation and processing plant this year and open in the fourth quarter of 2014. Approximately 100 employees will be hired when the facility is at full production, and more jobs will be added as growth warrants, the company said.

“We are thrilled to build our first U.S. location in Rupert,” said Joao Miranda, CEO and Co-founder of Frulact. “After looking at locations in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Nevada, we selected The City of Rupert because of the sense of their community, and a commitment that Rupert is ready and currently in position to guarantee that Frulact can start immediately with the construction of our factory in order to meet our objectives.”

“We feel that Rupert can best fit our needs and requirements to invest in this new industrial site. The City of Rupert is superbly located for the Frulact facility and therefore is ideal to serve our key customers throughout the United States. We look forward to operating in Rupert and getting established in the US production and distribution market,” he said.

“I had the opportunity to meet with members of Frulact’s senior management team, and I was impressed by their professionalism, knowledge and commitment to excellence – in their company, in their product, and in their partners,” Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter said. “I’m very happy to welcome them to Idaho now not as a visitor, but as a valued corporate citizen.”